Understanding Function

[jo15765]

Hello I have a workbook that has this formula in it, but I have no idea what this formula is doing.

Can someone explain to me what this formula does?

=IF(COUNTIF(SortGroup1,H3)>0,0,IF(OR(D3="Jackson, Mitchell",D3="Initz, Abigail"),-1,3))

[Fluff13]

What's it's saying is
If the value in H3 is found anywhere in the range "SortGroup1" then return 0 else if D3 is either "Jackson, Mitchell" or "Initz, Abigail" then return -1 & if none of that is true return 3

[jo15765]

What is SortGroup1? I don't see anything in the workbook (that's obvious) called that...

[etaf]

IF(TEST, TRUE,FALSE)
This is a nested IF , IN THE false section
so
IF(TEST1 , TRUE1 , IF( TEST2, TRUE2 , FALSE))

COUNTIF(SortGroup1,H3)>0
So if the count in the range name sortgroup, has a value of H3 and the count is greater than 0 - its TRUE so
do the TRUE part in this 0
IF FALSE
The thats another IF
The TEST is
OR(D3="Jackson, Mitchell",D3="Initz, Abigail")
SO IF the cell D3 contains the WORD "Jackson, Mitchell",OR "Initz, Abigail" then TRUE so result is -1
IF thats also FALSE
then do the FALSE 3

So the results in the cell will be 0, -1 OR 3
depending on the results of the TESTs

[protonLeah]

COUNTIF(SortGroup1,H3)>0

• look down the column labeled SortGroup1 to find a value matching whatever is in H3 and return the number of times found
• If it is found (doesn't matter how many) then put 0 in the cell

OR(D3="Jackson, Mitchell",D3="Initz, Abigail"

• If H3 data is not found (i.e., COUNTIF=0), then check D3 for either Jackson, Mitchell or Initz, Abigail
• if either is found put -1
• otherwise the result of the formula is 3

to find sortgroup1, click FORMULA menu on the ribbon, manage names...